Cogent Business & Management (Dec 2025)

Mapping the happiness research in business management: a bibliometric exploration

  • Vijay Kumar Pandey,
  • Mohit Sharma

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2025.2474855
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1

Abstract

Read online

Recognising and fostering happiness is essential for creating a thriving work environment and driving organisational performance and employee well-being. This research reviews scholarly literature on happiness in business management to identify research trends, methodologies, and areas needing further exploration. The PRISMA 2020 (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) checklist was followed to ensure transparency in identifying and selecting documents. A bibliometric analysis of 1,648 publications from the Scopus database showed that Youssef’s 2007 article on positive organisational behaviour had the highest citations, followed by Stutzer’s 2004 study on income aspirations and Fisher’s 2010 article on happiness at work. These highly cited works are essential references in business management. The significant findings suggest that happiness is a strategic asset in business management, influencing productivity, retention, and innovation. They show that focusing on employee well-being, supportive leadership, C.S.R., and inclusive cultures is essential for organisations aiming to thrive in the modern workplace. This research helps identify emerging areas of interest and highlight gaps in the existing literature, guiding future research directions in happiness in business management.

Keywords